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All Things Considered

All Things Considered is the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country. Each show consists of the biggest stories of the day, thoughtful commentaries, and insightful features brought alive through sound.

New partnership aims to reduce Philadelphia truancy

Each year, the Philadelphia School District, the Family Court and the Department of Human Services spend about $15 million on truancy prevention. But coordination has been lacking.

Philadelphia school, court and city officials announced a new collaboration aimed at cutting truancy.

Each year, the Philadelphia School District, the Family Court and the Department of Human Services spend about $15 million on truancy prevention. But coordination has been lacking.

Now stakeholders say they’re going to work together on a new citywide plan to reduce truancy …and a new Education Support Center to monitor the academic progress of students under D.H.S. care.

Mayor Michael Nutter:

“Our job as adults and especially in public service is to create conditions where every child in the city has the opportunity to grow and reach their God-given potential. It’s a concept that sounds pretty simple and of course is very difficult to achieve at times in a city that faces so many challenges brought on by poverty, educational challenges, lack of opportunity and lack of access – some of which is perpetrated over many, many generations.”

In Philadelphia, about 74,000 public school students are considered chronically truant. That’s two out of every five students.